Health problems forced two of the highest-ranking members of British royalty to step out of the spotlight this week.
King Charles is due to undergo a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate next week, while his daughter-in-law Catherine remains in hospital following a successful abdominal operation. William will also step back from royal duties to support his wife.
The adverts dominated newspapers in the UK on Thursday (18), with headlines such as “Let's pray they're both okay” leading the Daily Mail and “Royal family shocked by Kate's operation” appearing on the front page of the Sun.
With the British monarch aged 75, the announcement was made on Wednesday (17), while he was expected in Scotland for a series of engagements in the coming days, a royal source revealed.
These events were now postponed, it seems, on the advice of the king's physicians. According to the source, the palace did not want guests – including foreign dignitaries and cabinet members – to travel when they did not have to, which is why a brief statement was issued.
Generally, the palace does not like to release details about the Windsor family's specific health conditions. It's not that they are being cautious and deceptive, but the advisors believe that the family has the same right to patient confidentiality as everyone else. And when they are in or going to the hospital, the palace has a duty to inform the public.
However, in this case, the palace made a point of highlighting in its three-line statement that Charles' condition is “in common with thousands of men each year.” Plus, a royal source told us the monarch was interested in sharing his diagnosis as it could encourage other men to get check-ups.
With the king's operation, some have naturally asked what is happening in his absence. A royal source said they do not expect any State Counselors – senior royals who could replace Charles – to need to act in the monarch's place next week.
Currently, Princes William, Harry, Andrew and Edward, as well as Princess Anne, are able to carry out Charles' duties in his absence.
The news of Charles' treatment came as a shock to many when Kensington Palace separately announced Catherine's long stay in hospital just 90 minutes earlier.
While the royal is expected to delay his engagements for a short period while he recovers, Kate will be out of action for a significantly longer period. “Based on current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” Kensington Palace said.
The Princess of Wales was seen over Christmas with her family at Sandringham and looked good at several public engagements, notes the royal historian of Wales CNN Kate Williams.
“She was very busy in December. She had the music service and was making all sorts of commitments with her Royal Early Childhood Foundation, so I think there will be a lot of commitments that will have to be postponed now,” Williams added.
But she hasn't been seen publicly since. With Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis returning to school last week, it would only have been a matter of time before the public noticed Catherine's absence if the royal household hadn't made her announcement this week.
Resting up for several months at her Windsor home will be a very different change of pace for the mother of three, who is well known for being a parent heavily involved in her children's school activities. Her public schedule – which saw her make more than 120 appointments last year – is adjusted around her schedule at home.
Her husband, Prince William, will look after the children while she recovers, another royal source said. This means that William will not perform any official duties while she is still in the hospital or when she gets home.
When the couple started a family, they were eager to ensure their children had as normal an upbringing as possible. They do not have live-in staff or nannies and prefer to pick up their children from school. That doesn't mean they won't have support. Kate's parents live nearby and they can always rely on the staff at Windsor Castle, but the preference has been to do it themselves.
The couple has also canceled all trips for the foreseeable future. William and Kate usually travel at the beginning of the year, but now they will also miss an expected international spring trip.
The Palace's statement that she will be out of engagements until after Easter means she is likely to miss several high-profile events, including the British Academy Film Awards, the BAFTAs (they usually go as Prince William is president of the academy) and the annual Commonwealth Day Mass at Westminster Abbey.
Kate holds the role of honorary colonel in the Irish Guards, but the prognosis suggests she will be forced to forgo St. Patrick's Day celebrations with the regiment. She is also the patron saint of English rugby but will have to miss any appearance in the Six Nations tournament, which begins in early February.
The news of the princess's medical procedure came as a shock, but the royal source made it clear that the surgery is not related to cancer.
With all this in mind, the monarchy still needs an audience focused on the royalty represented by Queen Camilla. Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will, of course, continue with their own duties and obligations, but they do not carry the same weight as higher-ranking members of the family.
The institution will be keen to reassure the British that nothing is wrong and, therefore, Camilla must be active in royal engagements.
In the coming weeks, King Charles will still be dealing with the affairs of the monarchy out of the spotlight and couple Kate and William will be kept informed and can offer advice as needed. But it will be up to Queen Camilla to fill the void left by the departure of Charles, Kate and William from royal duties.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
